Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, delivered a keynote address at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Regulatory Information Conference this week. In her speech, she highlighted the historical context of nuclear innovation in the United States and emphasized the importance of maintaining leadership in this field.

Capito referred to President Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" initiative as a pivotal moment in recognizing atomic energy's potential. She stated, “Building on President Eisenhower’s ‘Atoms for Peace’ vision, Congress recognized the tremendous opportunity for atomic energy, and declared it a vital part of our common defense and security, and that is no different today.”

Addressing challenges faced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Capito pointed out inefficiencies in licensing processes. “Licensing actions are taking longer and are more costly, while the technology and experience has increased," she noted. She criticized current regulations as outdated for today's advanced technologies.

Capito also discussed energy reliability concerns, stating that nuclear energy must play a significant role in providing reliable and affordable power across the country. “We really need more baseload, and we need more vibrant reliability so that we can also not just provide the reliability but also provide affordability,” she said.

The ADVANCE Act was another focus of her remarks. Capito explained its role in reducing regulatory costs while enhancing efficiency: “The ADVANCE Act really gives a suite of policies, I think, to reduce the regulatory costs, increase efficiency, predictability, and timeliness.”

In closing her address, Capito urged stakeholders to capitalize on existing momentum: “I would encourage everybody in this room to really build on the momentum that we have... We have to have the regulatory environment to be able to move forward.”